Takata Airbag Recall: A Decade of Automotive Crisis

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the 28th U.S. death from a defective Takata airbag inflator, igniting the largest recall in U.S. history involving over 100 million vehicles worldwide. Automakers, including Honda and Nissan, continue to urge drivers to replace the flawed airbags to prevent further fatalities and injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Tuesday the confirmation of the 28th death in the United States attributed to a faulty Takata airbag inflator since 2009. This manufacturing flaw has triggered the largest recall in U.S. history, affecting over 100 million vehicles globally, including 67 million in the United States alone.

New information provided by Honda confirmed the death, which occurred in a 2018 accident in Alabama involving a Honda vehicle. The NHTSA warned that even minor crashes could result in the explosion of Takata airbags, causing fatal or life-altering injuries. Since 2009, hundreds of injuries have been linked to these flawed inflators across various automakers' vehicles.

Honda revealed that 20 deaths in the U.S. have been confirmed in Honda and Acura vehicles. The company has replaced or accounted for over 95% of the recalled Takata inflators but remains committed to addressing all remaining faulty airbags. The airbag issues stem from propellant degradation due to long-term exposure to high temperatures and humidity. Automakers like Nissan, Chrysler, and Toyota continue to urge owners of older vehicles to replace the defective inflators urgently.

(With inputs from agencies.)